Cheap and Easy DIY Board and Batten Bathroom Tutorial
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Transforming your bathroom with a DIY board and batten treatment is our latest project at the ranch house remodel. This home improvement project not only adds character to your home but is also surprisingly doable, even if you’re new to the DIY world.
Let’s take a look at how we remodeled this small bathroom into a modern spa like retreat.
What Kind of Wood Do You Use for Board and Batten in a Bathroom?
When it comes to choosing the right materials, the type of wood you select plays a key role.
Board and batten refers to the “board” being the wall pieces and the “batten” being the vertical boards or strips.
Over the years, I have done several board and batten projects and used both pine boards and MDF boards.
However, for our bathroom project, we decided to take a slightly different route.
PVC board and batten is not only an inexpensive way to add visual appeal to a bathroom but it’s super functional as it can withstand bathroom humidity.
The basement bathroom below was in desperate need of an update and once we removed the wall paper and tile, the existing walls were in rough shape.
Its moisture resistance is nothing short of a game-changer, ensuring your beautiful bathroom stays that way for years to come.
The newly remodeled bathroom featuring a board and batten wall treatment looks amazing!
It’s hard to believe it’s the same bathroom.
This is a terrible before picture (it’s a screen shot of a video) but I wanted you to see how the shower was prior to the remodel!
The new bathroom shower features the same floor tile around the shower offering a big impact!
Pretty spectacular right?
Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Board and Batten in Your Bathroom
Ready to get started?
You will need your board and batten supplies from your local home improvement store, a nail gun (we used a brad nailer as the nail heads are small and easy to fill with wood filler), braid nails, liquid nails and a stud finder.
Preparing Your Space:
Begin by clearing your bathroom walls of any fixtures and ensuring a smooth surface.
After removing the wallpaper and old tiles from the walls, Jim filled in the holes with joint compound and smoothed everything out with sanding, creating a perfect surface to attach the PVC board to.
Measuring and Cutting Your Boards:
Measure the length of your wall and cut your boards accordingly.
Remember, accurate measurements are key to a seamless look.
Fasten your board pieces first to the wall and then add your baseboard.
Then add the vertical batten pieces adhering with construction adhesive and then reinforce with braid nailer.
Be sure to space out the batten pieces the same distance throughout the bathroom.
Attaching Boards and Battens:
Next step, use a brad nailer, brad nails and construction adhesive (we used liquid nails) attach your boards and battens securely.
The Finishing Touches:
Apply wood filler to nail holes and seal edges with paintable caulk.
Choosing the right paint color is the final step in bringing your vision to life. We painted ours pure white, the same color as the trim for a seamless look.
Just a quick tip: make sure the material you choose for your board and batten is suitable for painting!
Floor to Ceiling Board and Batten in Bathroom: Elevating Small Spaces
There are several different ways to install board and batten.
One of my favorite tricks to make a small space appear larger is opting for floor-to-ceiling board and batten.
This design technique not only creates the illusion of height and space but also adds a seamless look that’s both elegant and timeless.
Usually, when you’re going for a board and batten style on sheetrock walls, all you really need are the vertical battens because the sheetrock is your “board.” Check out how I tackled this by installing vertical battens in our dining room at our old house. I added a top board too, setting it up at three-quarters of the wall’s height.
For this bathroom diy project though, the ceiling height was just under 8′ so we wanted to draw the eye all the way up the wall to give the illusion the small bathroom was larger.
This is an easy way, without breaking the bank, to add character to a blank wall.
Whether you are installing board and batten in a bedroom, a guest bathroom, living room or dining room, this wall treatment is a great way to elevate any room in your home.
The Advantages of Using PVC Board and Batten
Choosing PVC board and batten for your bathroom isn’t just about battling humidity—it’s also about ease of maintenance and longevity.
Unlike traditional wood, PVC won’t warp or rot over time.
Plus, it’s incredibly easy to clean, which is always a win in my book. PVC board and batten ensures your space not only looks fabulous but is also practical for everyday use.
Why Install Board and Batten in Your Bathroom?
One of the biggest reasons we opted for a batten wall treatment in this bathroom was the wall texture was rough and typical of older homes.
It’s always a good idea to way the pros and cons of material cost when remodeling a bathroom in an older home as you may be able to save money by using PVC board and batten.
This easy DIY board and batten project not only adds visual interest but also a touch of sophistication to your bathroom. Once we painted the bathroom white and installed the new tile and vanity, the overall vibe was clean and modern .
If you are looking for more board and batten tutorials, visit these posts below:
- board and batten wall in our bedroom at the lake house
- dining room board and batten makeover
- square board and batten wall treatment (wainscotting) in a bathroom
- diy board and batten bathroom – 1950s small bathroom makeover
Get caught up on the rest of our ranch home remodel by visiting the links below.
More Ranch House Renovation Series Posts
- Cute ranch renovation house project (the start and full tour of the home before we started remodeling)
- The day we gutted the interior (see the demo process of the entire house)
- Ranch house makeover (before and after of entire house)
- Small ranch house exterior makeover
- ranch front porch makeover (see how we added an accent wall)
- White kitchen cabinets with white countertops (kitchen before and after)
- How to elevate a ranch interior with arched doorways
- How to add curb appeal with a new front door (see how we installed a wider front door)
- How to build wood shelves in a closet (see how we transformed an old coat closet into a pantry)
- DIY Fireplace Makeover (how to paint a dated stone fireplace with white paint)
Meet Jessica
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.